Deeply damaged by her father’s abandonment when she was fourteen years old, Rainey Miller has let the fear of getting hurt shape and trap her to the point she refuses to connect with people on a deeper level. She is popular and has friends, but her strict dating rules prevent anyone from the chance to touch her heart.

Up and coming boxer, Logan Danvers, has his eyes set on the raven-haired beauty with the cerulean eyes. No matter how hard she tries to push him away, he will push back even harder.

Until she gives in.

Until she is his.

Because once he sets his eyes on what he wants, he doesn’t give up.

It’s who he is.

But what will he do when he realizes it’s not who he is but what he is that could cost him his chance with Rainey? Will he give up or will he find a way to make her realize she is The Girl Worth Fighting For?

Game on, firecracker. He knew he was going to love this. All the frustration he had experienced in the past month about this woman--his woman—he now welcomed. It fuelled his determination. Nothing and nobody would keep him from claiming her. Not even Rainey herself. When he reached her, the room was still quiet, but now her eyes were back on him. Logan could see that her shield was back up and he looked forward to taking on the challenge of taking it down once and for all. “What do you want?” Her voice was snippy and dismissive. Oh, yeah. I’m gonna enjoy this. Logan’s smile grew into a grin, resulting in Rainey putting her one free hand on her hip. “You know what I want. I’ve made myself crystal clear. More than once.” She clenched her teeth. “So have I.” “I don’t think you have, baby.” Her eyes narrowed on him further at hearing the endearment. He moved in closer, trapping her between him and the couch. “Um,” he heard murmured from beside him, from Ashley he thought. But he ignored it as he lifted his hand and cupped Rainey’s cheek, then kept moving it until his hand was in her hair at the back of her neck. Rainey froze at his touch, something he had anticipated. Then she tried to get out of his hold and started moving sideways, also something he had anticipated. He tightened his hold on her neck and pulled her into him, all the while holding her eyes, telling her he understood, that he knew she was scared of getting hurt, but that it didn’t matter. That he was done holding back and giving her time, that he was going to stake his claim right here, right now, and that from that moment on she was going to be his. That he promised to not hurt her like she had been hurt before, that there was no reason to be scared. He had no idea if she could read him like he hoped she could, but she had also stopped pulling away, so he took that as a good sign. He pulled her closer still, that one last inch that separated them, and his mouth was on hers, kissing her. He didn’t go easy. He gave her a full-on, no-holds-barred wet and deep kiss. As soon as his tongue touched hers, he knew deep in his soul that this woman was the one. Rainey was his and he was hers. There was no doubt. It was like an electric shock was running though his tongue and expanded through the rest of his body. He was extremely aware of the fact that his body was reacting accordingly and did everything he could to control himself, since they were in public, surrounded by teenagers, at her place of work. Which was extremely difficult to do when her tongue started tangling with his and her hands had come up to hold on to his biceps for dear life. He had her. He knew it. Fuck, yes.

Julia Goda is the self-published author of the Cedar Creek Series and The Girl Series, both of which have their first two novels published, but still have lots more to come.

Her novels touch on all kinds of different topics, but the things she tries to focus on no matter what are romance, strong women, alpha men, and overcoming emotional trauma.

When she’s not in her writing cave, spinning the tales that have been hounding her or editing (yes, she is also a professional editor,) she enjoys reading, drinking coffee, eating good food, and listening to rock music.

Her current home is Southern Alberta, Canada, where she lives close enough to the Rockies with her husband and two Labs to enjoy the beauty and excitement that is mountain living.